Combined step-ladder and ironing-board.



No. 793,748. 7 PATENTED JULY 4 1905i W. P. SMITH.

COMBINED STEP LADDER AND IRONING BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1904.

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No. 793,748., PATENTED JULY 4, 1905. W. P. SMITH.

COMBINED STEP LADDER. AND IRONING BOARD. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 10, 1904.

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aitozwmg UNITED STATES Patented July 4, 1905.

.ATENT Fries.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND IRONING-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,748, dated July 4, 1905. Application filed November 10, 1904:. Serial No. 232,174.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I,WILLIAM P. SMITH, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Nevada, in the county of Vernon and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Step-Ladder and Ironing-Board; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a combined step-ladder and ironing-board.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be quickly arranged for use either as a step-ladder or as an ironing board, means being provided whereby the parts will be securely held in place when adjusted for use for either purpose.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple, strong, and durable in construction, inexpensive, and well adapted to the purposes for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in viewthe invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device arranged for use as a step-ladder. Fig.2 is a similar view showing the device arranged as an ironing-board. Fig. 3 is abottom plan view showing the parts in folded position. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the parts when arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar view when the parts are folded, as in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes an ironing-board, on the under side of which are secured cleats 2, and upon the smaller end and on the under side of the same are secured laterally-projecting aperturcd ears or lugs 3, to which are .pivotally connected, by means of a pin or bolt 4:, astepladder 5. The side rails 6 of the ladder diverge from their upper pivoted ends to their lower ends, thus insuring a firm support for the ladder. Between the side bars or rails 6 are arranged the usual treads or steps 7 of the ladder, and pivotally connected to the pin or bolt 4: at the upper end of the ladder is a platform shelf or step 8, on the under side of which are arranged cross-bars 9. The outer ends of the bars 9 extend slightly beyond the free edge of the shelf 8 and are bent to form hooks 10. Pivotally connected to a pin or bolt 12, which is arranged in the side bars or rails 6 in the ladder, is a bail-shaped supporting-brace 13, which is adapted to be swung outwardly to support the shelf 8 in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Said brace 13 is held in position under said shelf by means of beaded pins or studs 14. On the edge of the shelf 8 is arranged a spring-catch 15, which when the shelf is in folded position will engage the pin or bolt 12. Said bolt is also engaged by the hooks 10 on the ends of the cross-bars 9. By means of said catch 15 and the hooks 10 the shelf 8 is held in a folded or inoperative position.

On the under side of the upper step 7 of the ladder is loosely connected one end of a supporting-hook 16, the opposite end of which is adapted to engage a staple 17, secured to one of the cleats on the under side of the ironing-board. When the hook 16 is in engagement with the staple 17, the ladder will be securely braced and held in its spread or operative position. WVhen in folded or closed position, the hook 16 is adapted to engage a spring-catch 18, arranged on the under side of the ironing-board, thereby holding said ladder in folded position against the under side of said board. Pivotally connected to the outer faces of the side rails or bars 6 of the ladder are inwardly-folding supportinglegs 19, which when in unfolded or opened position will support the ironing-board in a horizontal position for use. The legs 19 when in an unfolded position are adapted to engage stop shoulders or lugs 20, arranged on the side rails of the ladder adjacent to the pivoted ends of the legs. WVhen the legs 19 are in folded position, the inner ends of the same are adapted to overlap, and said overlapping ends are adapted to be engaged and held in position by a spring-clamp 21. The

legs 19, which are connected to the narrow end of the ladder, are formed in two sections, which are hingedly connected together midway between the ends of the legs, as at 22, so that when said legs are swung downwardly to support the ironing-board the lower portions of the legs may be swung outwardly, so that the distance between said ends will be the same as that between the ends of the opposite pair of legs, this arrangement forming a more stable support for this end of the board.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to' without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A combined step-ladder and ironing-board comprising a ladder pivotally connected at its upper end to said ironing-board whereby the device is supported for use as a step-ladder, a platform step or shelf pivotally mounted on the upper end of said board, asupportingbrace pivotally connected to said ladder to support said shelf in a horizontal position, means whereby said shelf is held in a folded position, a hook pivotally connected to said ladder and adapted to engage an eye on said board whereby said ladder is braced and held in an open position for use, a spring-catch arranged on said board with which said hook is adapted to be engaged to hold said ladder in a folded position against said board, and supporting-legs pivotally connected to said ladder to support said board in a horizontal position for use, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- HOSSGS.

WILLIAM P. SMITH. WVitnesses:

R. S. CRAMER, T. L. NOLAND. 

